Flexible display device and support device thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure provides flexible display device and a support device thereof. The support device includes a skeleton chain which includes a plurality of connected skeleton units. Each skeleton unit includes a head portion and a tail portion joined to the head portion. The head portion has a first rotary surface. The first rotary surface is a cylindrical curved surface or a spherical surface. The tail portion includes a cavity which has a second rotary surface. A radius of the first rotary surface is larger than that of the second rotary surface of the adjacent skeleton unit. The second rotary surface enwraps a part of the first rotary surface of the adjacent skeleton unit such that the head portion of the adjacent skeleton unit engages with the cavity of the tail portion and is rotatable with respect to the cavity of the tail portion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A support device for a flexible display device, comprising:
 a skeleton chain which includes a plurality of connected skeleton units; 
 wherein each of the skeleton units comprises a head portion and a tail portion joined to the head portion; the head portion has a first rotary surface, the first rotary surface is a cylindrical curved surface or a spherical surface; the tail portion comprises a cavity, and the cavity has a second rotary surface; a radius of the second rotary surface of one of the skeleton units is smaller than a radius of the first rotary surface of the skeleton unit adjacent to the one of the skeleton units; the second rotary surface of the one of the skeleton units enwraps a part of the first rotary surface of the skeleton unit adjacent to the one of the skeleton units such that the head portion of the skeleton unit adjacent to the one of the skeleton units is engaged with the cavity of the one of the skeleton units and is rotatable with respect to the cavity of the one of the skeleton units; 
 wherein both the first rotary surface and the second rotary surface are cylindrical curved surfaces; 
 in each of the skeleton units, the head portion has two major-arc shaped first lateral surfaces which are parallel to each other, and the first rotary surface extends along edges of the first lateral surfaces and is joined to the two first lateral surfaces; 
 in each of the skeleton units, the tail portion has two major-arc shaped second lateral surfaces which are parallel to each other, the second lateral surfaces are parallel to the first lateral surfaces, the second rotary surface is in the tail portion and between the two second lateral surfaces; and 
 radians of edges of the second lateral surfaces of the one of the skeleton units are smaller than radians of edges of the first lateral surfaces of the skeleton unit adjacent to the one of the skeleton units. 
 
     
     
       2. The support device according to  claim 1 , wherein a difference between a radius of the second rotary surface of the one of the skeleton units and a radius of the first rotary surface of the skeleton unit adjacent to the one of the skeleton units is smaller than one percent of the radius of the first rotary surface of the skeleton unit adjacent to the one of the skeleton units. 
     
     
       3. The support device according to  claim 1 , wherein in each of the skeleton units, the head portion and the tail portion are joined together by a bar-shaped structure. 
     
     
       4. The support device according to  claim 3 , wherein the bar-shaped structure is one of a first bar-shaped structure and a second bar-shaped structure; the first bar-shaped structure is a straight bar; the second bar-shaped structure is a straight bar having a circular-arc shaped indentation, and the indentation is at an edge of a connection portion between the head portion and the second bar-shaped structure. 
     
     
       5. The support device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a soft sheath; wherein the soft sheath wraps the skeleton chain. 
     
     
       6. The support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the skeleton chain comprise a first skeleton chain and a second skeleton chain; and
 the support device further comprises a first supporting bar and a second supporting bar which is parallel to the first supporting bar; 
 wherein a first end of the first supporting bar and a first end of the second supporting bar are connected by the first skeleton chain; a second end of the first supporting bar and a second end of the second supporting bar is connected by the second skeleton chain; and the first skeleton chain is parallel to the second skeleton chain. 
 
     
     
       7. A flexible display, comprising:
 a flexible display screen; and 
 a support device including a skeleton chain which includes a plurality of connected skeleton units; each of the skeleton units comprises a head portion and a tail portion joined to the head portion; the head portion has a first rotary surface, the first rotary surface is a cylindrical curved surface or a spherical surface; the tail portion comprises a cavity, and the cavity has a second rotary surface; a radius of the second rotary surface of one of the skeleton units is smaller than a radius of the first rotary surface of the skeleton unit adjacent to the one of the skeleton units; the second rotary surface of the one of the skeleton units enwraps a part of the first rotary surface of the skeleton unit adjacent to the one of the skeleton units such that the head portion of the skeleton unit adjacent to the one of the skeleton units is engaged with the cavity of the one of the skeleton units and is rotatable with respect to the cavity of the one of the skeleton units; 
 wherein the support device further comprises a soft sheath for wrapping the skeleton chain; and the flexible display screen is attached to the skeleton chain by the soft sheath; and 
 wherein the flexible display screen is attached to the skeleton chain of the support device. 
 
     
     
       8. The flexible display according to  claim 7 , wherein the soft sheath comprises a slot; and an edge of the flexible display screen is in the slot. 
     
     
       9. The flexible display according to  claim 7 , wherein the skeleton chain comprise a first skeleton chain and a second skeleton chain; and
 the support device further comprises a first supporting bar and a second supporting bar which is parallel to the first supporting bar; a first end of the first supporting bar and a first end of the second supporting bar are connected by the first skeleton chain; a second end of the first supporting bar and a second end of the second supporting bar is connected by the second skeleton chain; the first skeleton chain is parallel to the second skeleton chain; 
 edges of the flexible display screen are attached to the first supporting bar, the second supporting bar, the first skeleton chain and the second skeleton chain, respectively. 
 
     
     
       10. A support device for a flexible display device, comprising:
 at least one skeleton chain, the skeleton chain comprising a first skeleton unit and a second skeleton unit; 
 wherein the first skeleton unit comprises a first head portion and a first tail portion joined to the first head portion; the first head portion has a first rotary surface, the first rotary surface is a cylindrical curved surface or a spherical surface; the first tail portion comprises a first cavity, and the first cavity has a second rotary surface; 
 wherein the second skeleton unit comprises a second head portion and a second tail portion joined to the second head portion; the second head portion has a first rotary surface, the first rotary surface of the second head portion is a cylindrical curved surface or a spherical surface; the second tail portion comprises a second cavity, and the second cavity has a second rotary surface; and 
 wherein a radius of the second rotary surface of the second cavity is smaller than a radius of the first rotary surface of the first head portion; the second rotary surface of the second cavity warps a portion of the first rotary surface of the first head in such a interference fit manner that the second tail portion is rotatable with respect to the first head portion; and 
 wherein the first skeleton unit further comprises a first bar-shaped structure, the first bar-shaped structure joins the first head portion to the first tail portion; 
 the second skeleton unit further comprises a second bar-shaped structure, the second bar-shaped structure joins the second head portion to the second tail portion; 
 the first bar-shaped structure comprises a straight bar having a circular-arc shaped indentation; the indentation is at an edge of a connection portion between the first head portion and the first bar-shaped structure, and is in a path along which the second tail portion rotates with respect to the first head portion. 
 
     
     
       11. The support device according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the first rotary surface of the first head portion, the first rotary surface of second head portion, the second rotary surface of the first cavity and the second rotary surface of the second cavity is a cylindrical curved surface;
 the first head portion has two major-arc shaped first lateral surfaces which are parallel to each other; the first rotary surface of the first head portion extends along edges of the first lateral surfaces of the first head portion, and is joined to the two first lateral surfaces of the first head portion; 
 the first tail portion has two major-arc shaped second lateral surfaces which are parallel to each other, the second lateral surfaces of the first tail portion are parallel to the first lateral surfaces of the first head portion; 
 the second head portion has two major-arc shaped first lateral surfaces which are parallel to each other; the first rotary surface of the second head portion extends along edges of the first lateral surfaces of the second head portion, and is joined to the two first lateral surfaces of the second head portion; 
 the second tail portion has two major-arc shaped second lateral surfaces which are parallel to each other; the second lateral surfaces of the second tail portion are parallel to the first lateral surfaces of the second head portion; and 
 radians of edges of the second lateral surfaces of the second tail portion are smaller than radians of edges of the first lateral surfaces of the first head portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The support device according to  claim 11 , wherein a difference between a radius of the second rotary surface of the second cavity and a radius of the first rotary surface of the first head portion is smaller than one percent of the radius of the first rotary surface of the first head portion. 
     
     
       13. The support device according to  claim 10 , wherein the second bar-shaped structure comprises a straight bar having a circular-arc shaped indentation; the indentation of the second bar-shaped structure is at an edge of a connection portion between the second head portion and the second bar-shaped structure.